[bclark1]

http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/coyote-killing-contest-prompts-howls/20070111100809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Now why is this newsworthy, beyond announcing the winner?

[springmom]

Oh, dontcha know those POOR, INNOCENT little animals are just being PICKED on by those mean old heartless bloodthirsty hunters!!!! </END SARCASM>

It's probably the contest aspect that bugs people. Some of us get our hair up when we hear about tournaments for deer hunting too. Keeping the coyote population within reasonable limits is good for other wildlife, for ranchers, and for everybody who wants to be able to have their own dogs and cats (not to mention the odd goat, chicken pen, etc). But when you make it a contest people are going to get their knickers in a twist.

Had it just been an organized hunt put on by the state of Montana, it probably wouldn't have garnered so much fuss. That's my guess, anyway.

Springmom

[saltydog452]

They seem to get bent out of shape over Annual Rattlesnake Hunt also. It rec'd lots of neg PR.

Don't know if its still an annual event.

salty.

[springmom]

BTW, duplicate thread over on General Gun....

Springmom

[countertop]

Not sure if this should go somewhere else - but since AOL is trying to do away with varmit hunting - I thought this is the right group. Moderators, please move to whereever you think this is more approrpiate and/or will generate more traffic to the poll.

Here's a link to the anti varmit hunting poll (http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/coyote-killing-contest-prompts-howls/20070111100809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001) at AOL.

Here's the post (http://countertop-chronicles.blogspot.com/2007/01/nuts-are-on-loose.html) I just put up at my blog.

The Nuts Are On The Loose
Here's an important poll (http://news.aol.com/topnews/articles/_a/coyote-killing-contest-prompts-howls/20070111100809990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001) ... publicize it and go and vote in it.

The barren buttes surrounding this small ranching town will offer scant places for coyotes to hide this weekend as hunters converge for a "calling" contest to see who can shoot the most coyotes.

Part predator control, part economic development ploy, the annual event began five years ago in a bid to pique outside interest in Baker via a $6,000 purse funded by entrance fees, local businesses and the Baker Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture.



Seems the animal rights folks (and their comrades at AOL Time Warner) are out to do away with Varmit Hunting. Get ready for a RCOB moment.

Groups including the Humane Society of the United States and Predator Defense say neither private hunts nor public agency killings offer a real solution because of the coyote's ability to rapidly reproduce.

"You kill some coyotes and six months later it's as if you didn't kill any at all. What are they accomplishing other than just being barbaric?" asked Brooks Fahy, executive director of Predator Defense.



*******s.

I'm going to grab a bacon cheeseburger.

[mustanger98]

Seems to me it'd be fair to merge threads, but I don't know what that takes.

[BIGR]

Kill all those coyotes. The population around here has exploded. It seems like the more you kill the more they reproduce, trying to survive.

[Snappy_13]

down with the antis:mad:

[Waywatcher]

Let me preface my comment with the fact that I am a hunter.

I see nothing wrong with hunting coyotes.

However, having a "cash-fueled spectacle" like this is disrespectful to the animals.

[swampdog]

There was 52% against and 48% that supported the contest. That's much closer than I expected it to be. " Total Votes: 228,786"

I don't see anything wrong with it. I liked this:

"You kill some coyotes and six months later it's as if you didn't kill any at all. What are they accomplishing other than just being barbaric?" asked Brooks Fahy, executive director of Predator Defense.


That's like saying "If you lock up a bunch of crackheads, six months later it's like you didn't lock up any at all" No one ever accused the antis of being logical. I think the fact that hunters enjoy hunting bothers some people more than the actual kill, itself.

I agree that it does seem kind of tacky. I don't care much for fishing tournaments, either, but I support the right to have them.

According to USDA records, its Wildlife Services division shoots, poisons, traps or otherwise destroys about 80,000 coyotes a year on private and public lands nationwide.


That's a bunch of coyotes. I doubt these contests have much impact on total population, so it's back to some people being bothered by others having fun. As my favorite colonel said "It would seem we are becoming a nation of busybodies".

[velojym]

Well, I wouldn't lock up crackheads for messing up their own bodies. If they do something to harm anyone else, I'd hold 'em responsible, though (the whole 'blame the perp, not the object' thing... I got the idea as a gun owner in the first place).
As for coyotes, I grew up in rural New Mexico on a tiny hobby farm (2 acres).
We couldn't afford to lose many chickens to coyotes, so we shot 'em.
Nothing personal or cruel, just protecting our stock. It was good Garand practice, as well.

[H&Hhunter]

I truly enjoy the challenge of calling coyotes. It is an art form to do it right, to learn the skill set to call correctly is simple. To learn where to call and what to look for in a successful stand takes years in time and practice and ability to be successful at it.

Calling coyotes is one of the ways that I paid for college. I used to spend at least 2 to 3 afternoons or mornings a week out calling dogs. I'd usually kill between 1 and 3 a week during the winter months. My record is 4 in a single morning. Two off of one stand and two more off of other stands. Back then quality yote pelts in winter condition were selling for about $35 to $50 each.

It's one thing to call in a yote. It's an entirely other thing to get him into range and then make a successful killing shot on him. I'd say that really good coyote hunter may be 50% on call in to kill ratio. And a good caller probably only is successful actually bringing in a yote on about 20 to 30% of the stands he calls. Of course this depends on the area he is hunting. I've called some over populated places that will yield nearly 100% on call ins for the first week or so until the dogs start getting educated.

Some of the very best places I've ever called coyotes are on the edge of populated area where the coyotes are actively hunting cats and domestic dogs and savaging trash. They also start to become less wary of humans in these areas and in my opinion need to regain respect for humans. these are the areas that you hear about children being attacked by coyotes. Give me two weeks calling and shooting and these yotes will have a new found respect for all humans small and large alike.

It always amazes me when I see signs up on the side of the road out here in semi rural Colorado. REWARD MISSING CAT please call this number if see Fluffy.. these people obviously just moved here from (you name it, big city metropolis area) and simply don't understand that Fluffy ain't coming back. My Wiley ate his uneducated indoor city kitty butt. These are the same people who most likely voted against yote calling contests because it made their soccer mom hearts feel better. No information or education is necessary when making an emotional decision that in your opinion will make the world a safer place for Subaru Forester.

I am a coyote hunter. It is challenging. It is a fantastic way to spend the off season hunting and getting out and enjoying the outdoors. I make no apologies for it. GET OVER IT.:)

I also have no problem with Coyote calling contests. If you don’t like it don’t enter one. It does no damage to the eco system at large. The biggest problem I see here is the inability for a certain group of people (“progressive” liberals, not to put to fine a point on it.) in this country to be able to MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS!

[velojym]

I also have no problem with Coyote calling contests. If you don’t like it don’t enter one. It does no damage to the eco system at large. The biggest problem I see here is the inability for a certain group of people (“progressive” liberals, not to put to fine a point on it.) in this country to be able to MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS!

I would go a little further: We ARE part of the ecosystem at large, and nature
takes that into account... until we start meddling for political, rather than survival, reasons. Then we throw the whole thing out of balance.
When the government moved in to 'protect' Yellowstone, it was a disaster.

[shmavistime]

This is probably a dumb question but here in SE Michigan we dont have too many Pest animals. Sure we have squirrels, racoons, and possums but not really coyotes so excuse my lack of knowledge. My question is do you need a tag or anything or can you just go out and shoot varmit?

[SoCalShooter]

HEHEHE we are winning...by a small margin.


Did any of you see the picture of that coyote trying to get through the fence while the bovine was watching.


Coyotes thought: ...Oh yeah look at that big beautiful bovine prospect now if this damn fence wasnt in the way

Cow thought:...a little further...just a little further...little more...CLAYMORE! CLAYMORE! CLAYMORE! "Charlie on the WIRE!!!"

[EricTheBarbarian]

The best part is how they talk about the coyotes being varmints and can be killed at any time. Even the animal rights lady said that in 6 months time they reproduce and there is just as many as before. How could the coyotes be in danger if in 6 months time theres just as many as before. It is barbaric she says.:barf: Not any more barbaric than killing a mouse in your house or using bug spray.All of these cartoons with animals acting like people is the reason people get this way. I wonder what a poll about me hunting raccoons in dumpsters with a steel pipe would say:neener:

[H&Hhunter]

I wonder what a poll about me hunting raccoons in dumpsters with a steel pipe would say

:D :D :evil:

You aren't a barbarian sir you are still a SAVAGE....;) :D

To answer the other question. No in Montana there is no tag requirement to hunt coyote. In most places it only requires a small game license or nothing at all if you are a resident.

[Racktracker]

Man the some of the people on that AOL message board are NUUUUTTTTS.

But it sure is turning into a great source of entertainment.

[obxned]

Do these 'don't kill the poor cotote' types also protest about the sale of insect repellent and sprays at WalMart. What about Roach Motels - and do they worry about rats and cockroaches? May these idiots each perform an unspeakable act upon themselves.

However, the cash prize contest thing does not seem right to me!